NBA notebook

December 25, 2013

Bryant says recovery slow: Kobe Bryant wasn't happy about spending Christmas Day on the sideline, unable to help the struggling Lakers. It's a place he's unaccustomed to being on the holiday. Bryant leads the NBA with a record 15 appearances on Christmas Day, but he's out four to six weeks with a fracture in his left knee.

Bryant, who watched from the bench as the Lakers lost 101-95 to the Heat, says his recovery is going slowly because he can't put any pressure on his knee. He has been riding a bike and trying to watch his calorie intake because he's so limited physically.

“It's strange to be coming in on Christmas and not playing,” he said before the game. “It's a foreign feeling, but I'm here to support my guys.”